Government paid €200k in 'funeral grants' in Co Kildare

One of the highest number of payments made by the Government to assist with funeral costs were made to families in Co Kildare, figures have shown.

Data obtained by TheJournal.ie through a Freedom of Information request shows that Department of Social Protection approved payments of a total of  €4.2 million in this area this year.

Some 107 payments of a combined €201,000, were made in Co Kildare.

That was the third highest in Ireland, behind Dublin (995) and Cork (203).

The Journal.ie reports that most of these grants are generally paid to family members organising services, but they also cover arrangements for those with no next of kin.